MacART made an official debut with its inaugural Autism Research Stakeholder Symposium held in Hamilton on January 15, 2016. More than 150 participants, representing the full spectrum of stakeholders, including patient advocates, educators, clinicians, researchers, and policy makers, came together to discuss and plan collaborations to help advance autism care through meaningful research. With a focus on Early Interventions, the symposium featured the world-renowned expert on early interventions in ASD, Dr. Connie Kasari, Professor of Human Development and Psychology in School of Education and Department of Psychiatry at UCLA and founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA.
To learn more about the ideas and knowledge that came from the Symposium, please see our report HERE.
Date: Friday, January 15, 2016 – 08:30 to 15:00
Location: McMaster Innovation Park (MIP), Hamilton, Ontario
Agenda: 
MacARTSymposiumAgenda12Jan2015.pdf
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Connie Kasari
Dr. Connie Kasari, world-renowned expert on early interventions in ASD, Professor of Human Development and Psychology in School of Education and Department of Psychiatry at UCLA and founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA.
Margaret Spoelstra, Autism Ontario
Marg Spoelstra is the Executive Director of Autism Ontario and a Member of the Order of Canada. A special education teacher by training, Marg Spoelstra has spent the past 35 years working with individuals with a variety of special needs, especially those with autism.
Dr. Bill Mahoney
Dr. Bill Mahoney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University and the medical leader of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Services at the McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Sarah Hardy, MCYS
Sarah Hardy is the Manager of the Autism Policy Team at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services where she oversees the policy and program development for the autism programs funded by the ministry.
Hanna Ziada, MCYS
Hanna Ziada is a Senior Policy and Program Analyst at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Her current role includes leading the implementation of the new early intervention program in Ontario at four demonstration sites.
Discussant
Dr. Peter Szatmari
Dr. Peter Szatmari is the Chief of Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at The Hospital for Sick Children and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He is also the Patsy & Jamie Anderson Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health and a Professor and Head of the Division of Child and Youth Mental Health at the University of Toronto.